The Pew Research company recently went and meet people living in 40 different countries to ask them the following question: "Do you personally believe that homosexuality is morally acceptable, morally unacceptable, or is it not a moral issue?" Here thus results of this survey.

Let us start with the bad results which, without much surprise, come from the African countries. With 98%, people living in Ghana think that homosexuality is completely immoral. Not very far behind Ghana, one finds Jordan and Egypt with 95%, then Palestine with 94% of unfavorable opinions.

One moves a little more towards Asia where 93% of Indonesian consider homosexuality immoral.

In spite of a law allowing the marriage for LGBT couples, South Africa disapproves to 62% the same-sex relationships. It should be said that South Africa still remains a very dangerous country for the LGBT community.

Very near to the majority but nevertheless in lower part, we find then Israel whose questioned people disapprove homosexuality with 43%.

I acknowledge that I expected a better result of the United States where still 37% disapprove homosexuality (25% judges homosexuality as unacceptable but 35% thinks that is not a moral issue).

Come then Australia (18%), where marriage equality is still not legalized, Great Britain (17%) and Canada (15%).

The podium of the countries which consider less homosexuality as immoral are (drum roll):

In third position, France and Czech Republic, which both have 14% of disapproval! For the latter, it is really a very good surprise. Apparently, mentalities are changing and that really great.

In second position: Germany! The marriage is still not however possible for the same-sex couples. It is time to change that! Here, only 8% of the questioned people find homosexuality morally unacceptable.

Before to announce you the big winner of this survey, I make a point of specifying that, for a completely unknown reason, nobody was questioned in the Scandinavian countries. The Scandinavian countries were the first in the world to legalize marriage equality and one could expect to find them at the head of this survey but the country which considers homosexuality morally acceptable (only 6%) is Spain!

"There are tens of thousands of legally married same-sex couples in the United States, and more than 18,000 in my home state of California alone. These couples live their lives like all married people; they share the bills, they raise children together and they care for each other in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, until death do they part. But because of DOMA, they have been denied federal protections. It is time to right this wrong." said during a conference the Senator Dianne Feinstein who introduced the bill.

"If Democrats and Republicans can come together to do what’s right in New York, I know we can do the same in Congress to do what’s right for all of America. Now is the time to act on the federal level." added Senator Gillibrand.

I don't know if Republicans will always agree to work with Democrats.

]]>info@lezbelib.com (E-Li)News From The United-StatesMon, 11 Jul 2011 22:38:48 +0000More And More Support For U.S. Gay Marriagehttps://www.lezbelib.com/us-news/more-and-more-support-for-u-s-gay-marriage
https://www.lezbelib.com/us-news/more-and-more-support-for-u-s-gay-marriage

The support for marriage equality in United-States is better according to a study.

This study shows that American people are divided in two with 45% in favor of gay marriage and 46% who opposed it.

A few years ago, as you can see it on the picture, most of the population was opposed to the law.

In a political level, Democrats support more easily gay marriage with 57% and only 23% Republicans.

This study also show which areas vote for gay rights. The Northeast and West with 59% and 56% are regions which work more for equality against 34% and 40% for the South and Midwest.

]]>info@lezbelib.com (E-Li)News From The United-StatesFri, 04 Mar 2011 19:00:00 +0000Life, Liberty and the Right to Pursue Happiness in Lovehttps://www.lezbelib.com/life-sex-relationships/life-liberty-and-the-right-to-pursue-happiness-in-love
https://www.lezbelib.com/life-sex-relationships/life-liberty-and-the-right-to-pursue-happiness-in-love

Dear Sappho,

I don’t understand how some cultures, religions or people can tell other people whom they can or cannot love. Here in America the text of the second section of the Declaration of Independence reads: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Article 1 of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS states: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of humanity."

How could there possibly be any legal question or argument to prohibit the right of some to love?

Joan of Heart

Dear Joan,

Your moral arguments are both succinct and logical. While there is no universal definition of democracy, equality and freedom have always been associated as the founding principals of democratic systems.

In a democratic society freedom is secured by legitimized rights and liberties which are generally protected by a constitution. These principles are reflected in that all citizens are equal before the law. Democratic systems cannot and should not be used to take rights away from selective groups on the basis of discrimination, be it for moral or religious reasons.

Love is a democratic ideal. The inalienable right to love whomever you love, for whatever reason, is also a human right. Emotional and or mental control over others is domination and bullying. It is against human rights, against universal rights, and against the rights of US citizens to be told what to feel and for whom. The only sane argument is yes on love, no on hate. Free love from oppression and honor the dignity of love. After all, Love is still Love.